Odin’s Song
Upon Yggdrasill’s trembling tree I of my own free will was bound Nine days and nights ‘till I could see All hidden truth to bring to light, And words half-formed, obscurely uttered Became perfect and were clearly uttered.
Wounded with mine own spear I hung That songs eternal Might be sung. [Thor memorized this verse as a child from an old book] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Odin was the Father of the Gods in Scandanavian (north European) mythology, the land of the Vikings. Yggdrasill was the Tree of Life, with three roots reaching down to the underworld, the land of the giants, and branches reaching up to heaven, Valhalla. Beneath one of the roots of Yggdrasill was Mimir’s Well. Mimir was the keeper of wisdom. Odin tore out one of his own eyes and threw it into Mimir’s Well. In return, for his suffering, he was given knowledge of the Runes. Odin’s servants were two ravens, black birds, called Thought and Memory. The Rune’s were Odin’s gift to mankind. They were the writing system used by the Vikings. With writing they were able to store past knowledge, and develop new wisdom.
Topics in Public Speaking for English Learners ©Thor May 2016
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